1101From John Adams to John Adams Harper, 20 March 1812 (Adams Papers)
I have received, under your Frank, Copies of Henry’s full Proofs of his own turpitude and that of the late Governor of Canada, and that of some of the British Ministery; and I thank you for them. I read a Speech of Mr. Harper in Congress which appeared to me to contain marks of a Mind awake to Principles of Equity Humanity and Benevolence, as well as of Discretion, Patriotism and Sound Policy:...
1102From John Adams to Francis Dana, 3 February 1813 (Adams Papers)
I thank you, for with all my heart for your Christmas Oration, which I have read with and reread with increased pleasure loving the philanthropic heart which dictated it not less than admiring the ingenious head which composed it. With any man who denies the Legitimacy of our Revolutionary War, or my Quasi War with France or Mr. Madison’s War with England, I will not dispute because there can...
1103From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 22 January 1811 (Adams Papers)
The Hague, August 22, 1782—wrote tosSecretary Livingston—“Their high mightinesses have at length received their instructions from all the provinces, and I have this day been in conference with the grand committee, who communicated to me the remarks and propositions on their part. To this I shall very soon give my replication, and I hope the Affair will be soon ended. I was received in state,...
1104From John Adams to John Trumbull, 1 January 1817 (Adams Papers)
Your kind Letter of the 26th. of Decr has given me more pleasure than it would be prudent or decent for me to express. Your design has my cordial Approbation and best Wishes. But you will please to remember that the Burin and the Pencil, the Chisel and the Trowell, have in all Ages and Countries of which We have any Information, been enlisted on the Side of Despotism and Superstition. I Should...
1105From John Adams to Joseph Bradley Varnum, 9 February 1813 (Adams Papers)
With much pleasure have I read your favour of January 23d. I have thought that Nature, which has given to the Ant & the Bee to the wild geese & the storks, as well as to most other Animals in certain foresight necessary for their preservation; & to men a more extensive circumspection & sagacity: should have dictated to this nation, a more careful & provident preparation for National defence by...
1106From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 12 April 1809 (Adams Papers)
Thank you for your favor of the 1st. I might have quoted Job as well as St Paul, as a Precedent: but as I mix Religion with Politicks as little as possible, I chose to confine myself to Cicero. you advise me to write my own Life. I have made Several Attempts but it is so dull an Employment that I cannot endure it. I look So much like a Small Boy in my own Eyes that with all my Vanity I cannot...
1107Resumption of Correspondence with John Adams, followed by John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 1 January 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
As you are a Friend to American Manufactures under proper restrictions, especially Manufactures of the domestic kind, I take the Liberty of Sending you by the Post a Packett containing two Pieces of Homespun lately produced in this quarter by One who was honoured in his youth with Some of your Attention and much of your kindness. All of my Family whom you formerly knew are well. My Daughter...
1108From John Adams to John Adams, 14 December 1815 (Adams Papers)
Your classical letter of the 4th. of Octr, does you honour, upon every Supposition that I can make. If you have composed it yourself, it is highly honourable to the Skill and care of your Preceptors and to your own Application to your Studies; All of which must have concurred in producing Such a proficiency in so Short a time. If, by your dutiful and submissive behaviour to your Masters you...
1109From John Adams to Alexander Townsend, 26 June 1816 (Adams Papers)
When I lent you two Letters from Col. Smith I ought to have lent you a third: but it was overlooked by the Person I Sent to find them. That third dated 24th. Feb. 1816 I now inclose, with a Request that after you have examined the three, to your Satisfaction, you would be So good as to return them to me. You have in Contemplation a greater Subject than you perhaps are aware. I have Seen a Well...
1110From John Adams to Jonathan Mason, Jr., 26 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
The public papers have announced some sentiments of yours which have induced me to beleive that the volume of sketches which accompanies this letter will not be unacceptable to you. I pray you to accept it not only as a token of remembrance, but as an opportunity to encourage and promote, the extension and completion of a work, so necessary to our Commerce, our Union & our Independence. I am...
1111From John Adams to Samuel Perley, 18 April 1809 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of April 5th. I agree with you that our prosperity has been as great as that of any People that ever existed, and our Massachusetts and national Constitutions are better than any that I have known or read, as long as they are administered by the People and their Representatives according to their spirit and true Principles. How long this will be depends upon the...
1112From John Adams to John M. Carter, 15 February 1814 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of Feb 1, and a copy of Mr Taylors Arator. Your draught its price, shall be honoured at sight. and I should like to pay for a copy of the second edition at the same time. I have been waiting a long time, with some impatience for the communication & publication of Mr Taylors great work upon Aristocracy. I should be glad to pay for that work handsomely but at the same...
1113From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 19 April 1810 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, December 1, 1781—wrote to Major Jackson: “Last night I received your letter of the 12th of November, and am very sorry to find that you were not likely to sail as you expected. My dear Mrs. Adams, who has heard that Charles is coming home in Gillon, has a thousand anxieties about him, which will increase every moment until his arrival. But when we trust ourselves to wind and waves...
1114From John Adams to Stephen Peabody, 21 April 1815 (Adams Papers)
I received in due time your Letter of the fifth containing the account of the Apotheosis of your dearest Friend. At first I determined to Attend you. But the Roads the near departure of my Grandsons, Anxieties for their Parents and many cares that the world knows not, added to an Eightieth year, discouraged me. The Translation of the beattified Spirit was an Euthanasia devoutly to be wished....
1115From John Adams to William Stephens Smith, 14 December 1813 (Adams Papers)
It gave me great pleasure to be informed of your punctual arrival at the head quarters of good Principles and of good dispositions as I hope; of too little experience as I fear; and of too much eloquence as I certainly know. I need not quote to you “Dum Roma deliberat periat Seguntum.” My memory furnishes enough of examples of more modern date and nearer home. Canada was lost 35 or 36 years...
1116John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 24 August 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
If I am neither deceived by the little Information I have, or by my Wishes for its truth, I Should Say that France is the most Protestant Country of Europe at this time, though I cannot think it the most reformed . In consequence of these Reveries I have imagined that Camus and the Institute , meant, by the revival and continuance of the Acta Sanctorum, to destroy the Pope and the Catholic...
1117From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 26 July 1816 (Adams Papers)
In the last Week I have attended the House of Mourning and the house of Feasting. on Thursday I attended as a Paulholder the Funeral of Madam Lincoln the Relict of my ancient Friend General Lincoln Your Mother, Your Cousin Louisa and your Niece Miss Susan, attended Us. We drank Tea at Mr Colmans the Successor of Gay and Ware, in company with Judge Davis Colonel May &c. The Judge told Us what I...
1118From John Adams to John Taylor, 18 January 1815 (Adams Papers)
“Knowledge” you Say invented Alienation, and became the natural Enemy of Aristocracy. This “Invention” of “Knowledge” was not very profound or ingenious. There are hundreds in the Patent office more brilliant. The Right, Power and Authority of Alienation is essential to Property. If I own a snuff box, I can burn it in the Fire, cast it into a Salt pond crush it to attoms under a Wagon Wheel,...
1119From John Adams to Boston Patriot, 30 July 1811 (Adams Papers)
The Journal proceeds—1782 Nov. 29, Friday. Met Mr. Fitzberbert, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Jay, Mr. Laurens, (for the first time) and Mr. Stratchy, at Mr. Jay’s Hotel D’Orleans; and spent the whole day in discussions about the fishery, and the Tories.—I proposed a new article concerning the fisheries. It was discussed and turned in every light and multitudes of amendments proposed on each side, and at...
1120From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 25 January 1811 (Adams Papers)
Mr Erving, our Minister destined to Copenhagen, has already a Letter for you from me and others from your Mother and politely offers to transmit this as he may have opportunity, and expresses a desire to manifest his high Respect for Us and for you, upon greater Occasions. I am ashamed to Number my past Letters to you, they have been so few, but this is the Second at least Since this year came...
1121John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 28 October 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I have great pleasure in giving this Letter to the Gentleman who requests it. The Rev d David Edward Everett , the Successor of M r Buckminster and Thatcher and
1122John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 3 September 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
D r James Freeman , is a learned, ingenious, honest and benevolent Man, who wishes to See President Jefferson , and requests me to introduce him. If you would introduce Some of your Friends to me, I could with more confidence introduce mine to You. He is a Christian, but not a Pythagorian a Platonick or a Philonick Christian. You will ken him and he will ken You: but you may depend, he will...
1123John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 11 December 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
The Bearer of this Letter, after an Education at our Cambridge , travelled with J.Q.A. to Russia , Spent two years in looking at parts of Europe , returned to Boston , read Law with one of our first Professors in Boston , is admitted to the Bar, and now Wishes to have the honour of Seeing Montecello and paying his respects to President Jefferson
1124From John Adams to John Adams, 18 November 1815 (Adams Papers)
I am charmed with the Chirography of your Letter of the Eleventh of September to your Grandmother. If your proficiency in your other Studies is in proportion to your improvement in your hand writing you will soon be a first rate Scholar. Your Account of the Accademy at Ealing is quite Satisfactory. If under Such Masters pursuing Such Studies and Exercises, with Such Companions, you do not lay...
1125From John Adams to Horatio Gates Spafford, 6 September 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have received by the Mail your Friendly Letter of L.M. 31. with your Gazetteer of the State of New York. Although I have not the pleasure of a personal Acquaintance: my thanks are not the less but the more due to you for your kind Attention and valuable present. Your Work, as it is a moment monument of industrious research and indefatigable labour in Collecting information concerning the...
1126From John Adams to John Taylor, 14 August 1814 (Adams Papers)
In your fourth page you “are unable to discover, In Oour form of Government, any resemblance of Monarchy, Aristocracy or Democracy.” “as defined by ancient Writers, and by Mr Adams himself.” As these Words are technical Terms, whose meaning is as well defined both by ancients and moderns, as the Words, Point, Line, Surface, or Solid, in Geometry, I Shall nor turn over Volumes to quote...
1127John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 2 March 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I cannot be Serious! I am about to write You, the most frivolous letter, you ever read. Would you go back to your Cradle and live over again your 70 years? I believe you would return me a New England Answer, by asking me another question “Would you live your 80 Years over again”? If I am prepared to give you an explicit Answer, the question involves So many considerations of Metaphysicks and...
1128John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 20 December 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
The most exalted of our young Genius’s in Boston have an Ambition to See Montecello , its Library and its Sage. I lately gave a Line of Introduction to M r Everett , our most celebrated Youth: But his Calls at home, forced him back from Washington . George Ticknor Esquire who will have the Honour to present this to you, has a reputation here, equal to the Character given him in the enclosed...